This application provides an example timing advance update method, an example terminal, and an example base station. One example method includes receiving, by a terminal, an updated timing advance TA value and a beam cell identity of a beam cell in which the terminal is located that are sent by a base station. The example method also includes obtaining, by the terminal, corresponding TA compensation information based on the beam cell identity. The example method further includes performing, by the terminal, TA compensation in a TA update period based on the updated TA value and the TA compensation information. The example method also includes sending, by the terminal, uplink data by using a TA value obtained after TA compensation is performed.